![]() |
Jane Monheit brings Judy Garland to the Dakota, May 13th |
© Andrea Canter
Songs from
an award-winning vocalist, a popular crooner and a locally acclaimed pianist; a
CD release from a young lion's quartet and a dazzling duo from some even
younger lions; a rare gig with a veteran trio; the opening of a four-night run
of a unique collaboration among dance, jazz and South Indian tradition... just
another week on the Twin Cities jazz scene.
Big Gigs This Week
![]() |
Irv Williams |
Friday, May 9. Happy Hour
continues weekly at the Dakota (4:30- 6:30 pm) but with some change in the
musical cast. Despite his threats to "retire," saxophone legend Irv Williams continues to head these
free sets, but his new cohorts are guitarist Steve Blons and bassist Steve Pikal.
Watch for young Joshua Jones sitting
in (on sax) when he's on break from studies at Luther College.
![]() |
Levi Schwartzberg |
With high
school graduation just a few weeks away, pianist Will Kjeer and vibraphonist Levi
Schwartzberg already have a lot of gigging experience. Tonight they perform
on the Jazz Police Youth Showcase at Jazz Central, dubbing themselves
Traditional Grip. Expect some unique arrangements, original tunes and perhaps a
4-handed duet given Levi's keyboard skills. Will and Levi are completing a
second year with the Dakota Combo and will soon head off to college jazz
studies.
![]() |
Nelson Devereaux, Courageous Endeavors |
Not very
many years beyond the Youth Stage themselves, Courageous Endeavors marks the release of their first album, Prototype, with a performance at the
Icehouse (11 pm). Since their first performances about two years ago, this
quartet has established itself as a creative force on the local jazz scene --
Nelson Devereaux on saxes, Joe Strachan on keyboards, Brian Courage on bass,
and Miguel Hurtado on drums. Expect a late night of substantial original
compositions.
![]() |
Steve Kenny |
Saturday, May 10. A new spot for jazz, Sweet 317 (in
the Northern Building that also houses the Black Dog
and art galleries) hosts Steve Kenny's
Group 47, previewing music from their upcoming LP, Straight to Vinyl. Kenny on
"flumpet" and Adam Tucker on bass mix it up with their very young
co-conspiritors Thomas Strommen (sax), Will Kjeer (piano) and Alex Burgess
(drums).
![]() |
Yohannes Tona |
Just around
the corner at Studio Z, the Yohannes Tona
Trio explores music "Made in Abyssinia"
as this month's installment of Jazz at Studio . Ethiopian bassist Tona will
also lead an open workshop with guitarist Geoff LeCrone and percussionist Shai
Hayo an hour before the concert. These workshop/concert events provide a very
user-friendly opportunity to learn about the music, whether you are a musician
or serious listener.
![]() |
Arne Fogel |
Sunday, May 11. Take Mom to Hell! This is a
special Mother's Day gig at Hell's Kitchen -- Arne Fogel with the Tanner Taylor
Trio. No matter how old your mom is, chance are that she remembers the great
singers of the 20th century, particularly Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, two
subjects which Arne Fogel knows in great depth. And that depth comes through in
every song.
Tuesday, May 13. Jane Monheit has performed in town a number of times, usually at
the Dakota, but never with a theme-based show. One of the most popular
vocalists on the international circuit, the honey-voice singer returns to the
Dakota with "Hello Bluebird: Celebrating the Jazz of Judy Garland." To quote Jane, "I want to get away from the
drama, and celebrate what we all loved about Judy...the immense joy she brought
through song, and her innate understanding of jazz. She did so much more than
break hearts...she put them together again...and that's what we're going to be
about with this show!" Jane brings along her usual trio, with Michael
Kanan on piano, Neal Miner on bass and husband Rick Montalbano on drums.
![]() |
Framework |
Wednesday, May 14. Boasting three of the best musical minds in the Metro, Framework (Chris Olson, guitar; Chris
Bates, bass; Jay Epstein, drums) comes to Jazz Central on Chris Bates' monthly
improvisation series. Among the trio is a wealth of experience in varied
contexts, but with a common denominator of creative energy. If guitar trios
were bookends, Framework would play opposite Red Planet-- in fact, the two
bands have bass and drums in common. Different guitars, different sounds, but a
similar high level of artistry.
![]() |
Laura Caviani |
Thursday, May 15. For years we have enjoyed pianist Laura
Caviani in trio, quartet, X-Tet and orchestra configurations, playing bebop,
post bop, Brazilian and original modern jazz. We've heard her accompany such
vocal powerhouses as Lucia Newell and Karrin Allyson. So now, it's Laura who picks up the
microphone on Jazz Central's Vocal Jazz Night, with pianist Chris Lomheim
backing her first gig as jazz vocalist. We've heard Laura add vocals a few
times, but this is new! And this is going to be good!
![]() |
Ranee Ramaswamy (Ragamala) |
Tonight in the McGuire Theater of the Walker Art
Center is the opening
performance (world premiere) of Song of
the Jasmine, a collaboration among Ragamala Dance and jazz
saxophonist/composer Rudresh Mahanthappa.
This work was commissioned by the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Walker Art Center. A recent recipient of a Doris Duke Artist Award, Ragamala co-director Ranee Ramaswamy, with daughter/co-director Aparna Ramaswamy, leads the dance company moving to the music of Mahanthappa and his new ensemble (Rez Abassi on guitar, V.K. Raman on South India flute, Rajna Swaminathan on mridangam and South Indian drum, and Anjna Swaminathan on violin). Song of the Jasmine is described as an "investigation of identity that conjures the past in order to experience the power of the present," the music a fusion of traditional Carnatic music and modern jazz. Performances run through May 18.
This work was commissioned by the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts and Walker Art Center. A recent recipient of a Doris Duke Artist Award, Ragamala co-director Ranee Ramaswamy, with daughter/co-director Aparna Ramaswamy, leads the dance company moving to the music of Mahanthappa and his new ensemble (Rez Abassi on guitar, V.K. Raman on South India flute, Rajna Swaminathan on mridangam and South Indian drum, and Anjna Swaminathan on violin). Song of the Jasmine is described as an "investigation of identity that conjures the past in order to experience the power of the present," the music a fusion of traditional Carnatic music and modern jazz. Performances run through May 18.
More Jazz Every Night
Be sure to
check live jazz calendars on Jazz Police
and KBEM sites. Also find a growing
number of events on the Jazz Near
You site, a service of All About
Jazz. A few more gigs of note:
Friday, May 9. Paula Lammers at Parma
8200; Sophia Shorai at Hell's Kitchen; Bryan Nichols and James Buckley, dinner
sets at the Icehouse; Twin Cities Jazz Imports at the House of Pizza (Sartell,
MN); Todd Harper solo piano followed by the Kronick Quartet at the Black Dog;
John Paulson with Swing, Inc. at Signatures Restaurant (Winona)
Saturday, May 10. JoAnn
Funk and Jeff Brueske in the Lobby Bar (Saint Paul Hotel); Benny Weinbeck Trio
at Parma 8200; Viva Brasil at Loring Pasta Bar; Peter Vircks Quartet at Honey
Sunday, May 11. Tim Patrick Trio at Hell's Kitchen; New Orleans Mothers Day Brunch with Southside Aces at the Dakota; Zacc Harris Trio at Riverview Wine Bar; Jerry O'Hagan Orchestra with Charmin Michelle at Cinema Ballroom
Monday, May 12. Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Brian Grivna at Jazz Central; Mancrush at the
Icehouse; Twin Cities Hot Club at Famous Dave's (Uptown)
Tuesday, May 13. Cedar
Ave Big Band at Jazz Central; Chris Olson Project at the Black Dog; Nova Jazz
Orchestra at Minnesota Music Cafe; Roseville Big Band at Edinborough Park; Cafe
Accordion at Loring Pasta Bar
Wednesday, May 14. Charmin
Michelle and Denny Malmberg at Fireside Pizza; Ottmar Liebert and Luna Negra at
the Dakota; Wolverines Trio at Hell's Kitchen; Orange
Mighty Trio at Cafe Maude
![]() |
Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim |
Thursday, May 15. Ottmar
Liebert and Luna Negra at the Dakota; Alicia Renee and Chris Lomheim, Jazz @
Christos (Union Depot); Beasley's Big Band at Wabasha Street
Caves
Coming
Soon!
. May 15-18,
Ragamala Dance Company and Rudresh Mahanthappa at the Walker
. May 16, Steve Kenny Quartet at the Black Dog
. May 16,
Fantastic Merlins at Sweet 317
. May 16,
Jazz Central All Stars at the Paramount Theater (Austin, MN)
. May 18,
Minnesota Youth Jazz Bands Spring Concert at Minneapolis South
High School
. May 18,
Ellen Lease/Pat Moriarty with Michael Attias at Studio Z
. May 19, Jean Brice Godet with the Fantastic Merlins /Atlantis
Quartet at the Icehouse
. May
19-20, Cassandra Wilson
at the Dakota
. May 20,
Adam Meckler Orchestra at Amsterdam Bar
. May 20,
Explosion Big Band at Jazz Central
. May 22,
Phil Mattson Singers at Jazz Central
. May 22,
Irv Williams CD release at the Dakota
. May 22,
Talking Strings at the Black Dog
. May 23,
Good Vibes Trio at Jazz Central/Jazz Crew
. May
26-27, Victor Wooten at the Dakota
. May 27,
Twin Cities Jazz Orchestra at Jazz Central
. May 28,
Dean Magraw and the Prairie Rhythm Section at the Dakota
. May 29,
Bill Charlap Trio at the Dakota
. May 29,
Rhonda Laurie at Jazz Central
. May 31,
Jazz Central All-Stars, Palace Theater (Luverne,
MN)
. June 2,
Tom Rainey and Ingrid Laubrock at the Icehouse
. June 7,
Jazz Central All-Stars, Hollywood Theater (Montevideo, MN)
. June 8,
Jazz in the Library, Joan Griffith at St
Paul Central Library
. June 14,
Next Generations, Steve Kenny Group 47 Digital Release, Jazz at Studio Z
. June 14,
Jazz Central All-Stars, Eagles Healing Nest (Sauk Centre, MN)
. June 15,
Billy Hart Quartet with Ethan Iverson at the Dakota
. June
16-17, Maceo Parker at the Dakota
. June 18,
Ginger Baker Jazz Confusion at the Dakota
. June 18,
Jazz in the Library, Bryan Nichols Quartet at St Anthony Park Library
. June 24,
Diane Schuur at the Dakota
. June 25,
Jazz in the Library, Tres Mundos at Arlington Hills Library
. June
26-28, Twin Cities Jazz Festival (Branford Marsalis 6/27; Joe Krown, Dianne
Reeves with Geoffrey Keezer 6/28; and more), Mears
Park and beyond (St Paul)
. June 30,
Craig Handy at the Dakota
. July 1,
Nels Cline and Julian Lage at the Dakota
. July 2,
Pedrito Martinez at the Dakota
. July 3-5,
Iowa City Jazz Festival (Tom Harrell, Joe Lovano Us Five, Anat Cohen Quartet,
Ingrid Jensen Nordic with Geoffrey Keezer, Jared Gold, Pedrito Martinez)
. July 7-8,
Bill Frisell Quartet (Greg Leisz, Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen) at the Dakota
. July 10,
All Originals Jazz series, The Illicit Sextet at Studio Z
. July 17,
All Originals Jazz series, Courageous Endeavors at Studio Z
, July 17,
Jazz Central All-Stars, St. James
Memorial Park Band Shell (St. James, MN)
. July 24,
All Originals Jazz series, Zacc Harris Group at Studio Z
. July 31,
All Originals Jazz series, Red Planet at Studio Z
![]() | |
Rez Abassi and Rudresh Mahanthappa, Song of the Jasmine with Ragamala Dance, | at the Walker |